The latest project from Lers Ros owner Tom Silagorn, ESAN CLASSIC has now opened in the former Olive on Larkin. We hilariously and finally got an email back from, oh, 2015, when we first inquired and wrote about the project. The menu is focused on Northeastern Thai (Issan/Esan) and Laotian cuisine—take a look at the lunch and dinner menus here from Silagorn, who is working with chef Chanon Hutasingh. Bring on the larb, fermented pork sausage, raw shrimp salad, tamarind soup, and Massaman curry! Open Sun-Thu 11am-12am, Fri-Sat 11am-2am (closed from 4pm-5pm daily). 743 Larkin St. at O’Farrell, 415-800-7979.
Great news: MONG THU has reopened a few months after making some updates to the kitchen (thanks to city assistance via SF Shines for the upgrades). Owner Kim Nguyen has been running the café for more than 20 years (since 1993!), and now has an expanded menu (including bún mắm, a “Vietnamese-style gumbo soup,” via Hoodline). Open Tue-Sun 7am-4pm. 248 Hyde St. at Eddy
Over on Geary, the newly opened BANDIT is getting rave reviews for their breakfast sandwiches (six kinds!) and American Wagyu burgers on brioche buns, which are reportedly full of flavor and the price is right (nothing over $12). There are also chicken and vegetarian options. Plus there’s “butcher’s cut bacon,” which is gaining all kinds of friends and fans. I know where I’m getting my next breakfast out! 683 Geary St. at Leavenworth, 415-658-7780.
Tamarind soup at Esan Classic. Photo courtesy of Esan Classic.
